Microsoft gets official with Windows Azure cloud OS, platform

Steve Ballmer himself first dropped word of this one earlier this month, but Microsoft has now finally gotten official about its new cloud computing operating system, and its name: Windows Azure. What's more, the OS is apparently just one component of Microsoft's larger Azure cloud computing platform, which will eventually be fully rolled out alongside Windows 7, and will encompass Microsoft's existing Live services, SQL services, and .NET services, among other things. If that's got you excited, you can find plenty more details at the link below, and even a few SDKs ready for downloading.

[Via Pocket-lint]

[Eric M. @ Oct 27th 2008 4:09PM]

Everytime I hear about this Cloud OS now I'm going to be thinking about the torrent client Azureus, instead of just Azure.

[PEZ @ Oct 27th 2008 7:42PM]

I Was thinking the same thing. Its like he MS.. Azure us... wont ya?

:)

[Josh Ladella @ Oct 27th 2008 5:10PM]

maybe microsoft will coin the next computing platform "Windows μTorre"

[jorvay @ Oct 27th 2008 6:01PM]

Are you kidding me? I through a great Homer Simpson line out there and nobody gets it? Surely I'm not the only Simpsons fan on a nerdy gadget site!

Marge Simpson: What exactly is it your company does again?
Homer Simpson: This industry moves so fast it's really hard to tell. That's why I need a name that's cutting-edge, like CutCo, EdgeCom, Interslice. Come on, Marge, you're good at these! Help me out!
Marge Simpson: How about... Compuglobalhypermeganet?
Homer Simpson: Fine, it's not important. What really matters is my title. I think I'll make myself... vice president. No, wait! Junior vice president!

If nobody else got that, then god help us all.

[Saad Rabia @ Oct 27th 2008 7:07PM]

I know that what I will say is not related to what Eric posted but I need Engadget to read this.


Dear Engadget,

I and many others would love to see you grow bigger and stronger everyday, we enjoy reading your articles as well as comment and discuss whatever comes in them. I really believe in you guys as a real authentic honest gadget blog where news are your thing. And with all of this I can't but salute you guys for all the hard work you do and present.

People may see me and many others as MS fans, and coming to think about it, the amount we talk about MS in the comments sections is really annoying for people who hate this fine company. As a matter of fact, we bring up Microsoft's name so much only and only because you guys do not cover that company fairly enough. We are not asking you to screw over any other company, but honestly you guys, and I'm being completely realistic in my thoughts, you guys have a clear hate for MS, it isn't a disastrous hate, but it is the type that makes you want to make fun or just ignore anything MS does or announces. It has become like some type of a sickness in you guys, which of course can be healed with rational thinking and readers' consideration.

I'm not asking you to cover MS's news every single hour like what you do for Apple, but instead just be fair in talking about this company, because they simply are helping many of us, your loyal readers, continue our lives through using its great products and services, in other words, MS for me and many many other is something that we would like to read about just as much as Apple users like to read about Apple's news. Don't makeup news, but cover what they do much better than what you are doing now; we really care.

Engadget, I will work for you guys if you really hate the shit out of MS, for free, as a volunteer, I will write articles for you guys and you double proof it then post it under whoever's name, I don't mind that at all, and if you are able to do such easy job by your talented staff then show us some real MS covering.

I honestly have no hate to any other company or to this blog or its readers, even if so many do hate me, but try to give it a thought guys, sit together and think it out and for once, since a long time, be fair with MS news.

I love you guys.

Yours,
Your loyal MS using readers.

[John @ Oct 27th 2008 8:42PM]

@Saad Rabia


NO U

[KarlW @ Oct 27th 2008 9:22PM]

@Saad Rabia

Another long populist post to try get highest ranked?

Neither Apple fanboys nor MS fanboys dominate the comment section. Sometimes, there's a strong case for Apple, and people who make it get voted down. Sometimes, there's a strong case for Microsoft, and those people too get voted down. There is no order to it. It's not like all pro-Apple post are highest ranked; indeed, many of them are lowest ranked.

Apple is much more secretive than Microsoft, and tend to file quite a lot of exotic patents. Nobody knows what to expect from them. There's a massive rumour community that has grown from this, and the conflicting reports make the situation even less predictable. That makes the news more attractive to report. That's why Apple tend to get more posts. Microsoft is more predictable - it's boring news. Simple. No conspiracy theories.

Apple is also growing. Recent figures suggest that they have more cash than Microsoft, and revenue and profits do hold their own against the much more massive Microsoft. Ten, or even five years ago, that would have been an outlandish statement. That shows that Apple are being much more dynamic. They're moving fast, doing well for it, and they seem to be changing industries as they go (iPhone showed the fragile dominance of WinMo and RIM, led Google to create Android, WebKit is being used on nearly all mobile OSes for better browsing). Microsoft have been comparatively slow. They're not pushing the boat out as much, and aren't generating as much excitement as a result. Send in some worthy news and I'm sure Engadget will post it.

[KarlW @ Oct 27th 2008 9:31PM]

I just saw how long my post was and realised it may be considered hypocritical. That said, I don't give a toss about my rank. It's not like it means anything.

At least it wasn't in the form of an open letter. That's just begging for a +1.

[Saad Rabia @ Oct 27th 2008 9:55PM]

KarlW, listen mate, I'm not looking for high ranks, these ranks represent nothing but a momentarily agreement from others to some opinion or vise versa. I'm in no way seeking the acceptance of people who think that Apple is god or is evil, I really don't care much about Apple, you know what I mean? All I want is more news and less kid-like bashing of Microsoft, it's just that I expect from a website like Engadget to include a good summarization of all news of a particular day, and I simply don't see Microsoft represented the right way it should be; forget about Microsoft doing more or less money than Apple, I and many others want to read what's new about Microsoft without all the bashing, the hating and the "I use Apple, I like to make fun of Microsoft" tone of writing in each and every article I read. For me, for example, all Apple news are boring, simply because I read the same fact-praising and rumor-spreading words many times a day, all inside this one site.

Think about this: Right now, and at this exact moment, and after it has been announced, What is so "rumory" about the MacBook Pro or iPod? Do we really need that link up there for a whole week and just 3 weeks ago we only had a small unreadabley bashing review about the Zune 120? Is that fair? Is that real journalism and loyalty to spreading fair information? Why can't I read a normal unbiased review about a Windows laptop for at least a whole day? there are 365 days a year, and all I see is over 100 days of Apple reviews then another 265 days of Apple rumors!

Don't get me wrong, as I said before, it's not hate that I have towards Apple, but the truth is just that I don't care much about them, just like Apple fans don't care much about seeing a link to a review about some Windows laptop for the next 7 days! Also remember, I'm using that link on top of Engadget's website as an example, meaning that there many other ways it really bothers me how this whole thing has become.

As a starter I would love to see Engadget, at least, stop the "kidy" tone they always use when it comes to Microsoft news. Even if there are no news about MS, why the need of acting cool and funny only when it comes to MS when the article is about a serious issue from Microsoft? Then act all professional and godly when the news are about a power adapter from Apple?!

[Poom @ Oct 28th 2008 12:02AM]

Honestly, Strata>>>>Azure. I don't know why they changed it.

[d00b @ Oct 28th 2008 2:17AM]

@Saad Rabia

I empathize. I've long ago gotten weary of Engadget's Homer Simpson "yuk yuk" tone. However, it's probably par for the course, considering the geek nature of its audience demographics (I'm one as well). The sophomoric slant isn't as bad as some others, say, Gizmodo, and will probably need to be adjusted for a more profession one, if and when Engad tries for a broader demographic. Until then, I ignore the k00lz kiddie talk and just concentrate on the gadgets.

[sr @ Oct 28th 2008 9:59PM]

Saad, the Zune does really suck. It is bigger, heavier, uglier and generally useless as a portable device. Other than that I really agree. The writing here is so pro Apple it is sickening. The MS hate is ridiculous.

I tend to hate MS also, but I have my reasons. The Windows OS has some issues that need to be fixed badly and the fact that it is the dominant OS in the world means that they are not lacking for resources. Just today I noticed that the wireless lan icon on my vista laptop took 15 seconds to respond on a fairly recent clean install and not very long after bootup. The updates icons showed up and it would not give any information about what was being installed, it only told what state of download it was in. That is just stupid. The amount of time for this OS to resume from sleep or hibernate has gone 200 steps back from Windows XP. The system takes an extra 15 seconds to correctly restore my LCD brightness or give ME THE USER any control over my LCD brightness. Anyway it is what I use for better or worse.


What surprises me though is that a product like Windows Home Server which single handedly brought back respect for MS in me had no real review here or hoopla. I honestly believe that WHS is the biggest thing to hit computing in recent times. I also believe that if marketed correctly it could/should/would be in the homes of everyone with an internet connection in 5 years. It should be something every family or household should have like a TV IMHO. The interface is so intuitive and easy that I could tell my parents to get one and trust them to set it up and use it. If they can connect and use a Roku they can surely set this thing up, that's the quality of the product they have made at MS this time. Secure storage for everyone in the house, media sharing for everyone in every room, automatic PC backups, intelligent automatic duplication and backup of data, cheap and easy expandability and no maintenance just make this product a winner.

[John @ Oct 27th 2008 4:09PM]

Who comes up with all of these boring names?

[Esat Dedezade @ Oct 27th 2008 4:14PM]

Would 'Windows Total Ultimate Pwnage Thats Even Better Than Unwrapping An Expensive Christmas Present Containing Your Most Wanted Gadget Whilst Eating A Freshly Made Krispy Kreme Thats Nice And Hot' be a more exciting name?

What? It might catch on. Windows WTUPTEBTUAECPCYMWGWEAFMKKTNAH has a catchy ring to it IMO.

[Samboini @ Oct 27th 2008 4:15PM]

The same person who called you John?

[John @ Oct 27th 2008 4:17PM]

(it's not my real name)

[16-bit @ Oct 27th 2008 4:19PM]

az⋅ure
  Pronunciation [azh-er]
–adjective
1. of or having a light, purplish shade of blue, like that of a clear and unclouded sky.
2. Heraldry. of the tincture or color blue.
–noun
3. the blue of a clear or unclouded sky.
4. a light, purplish blue.
5. Heraldry. the tincture or color blue.
6. the clear, cloudless sky.

[John @ Oct 27th 2008 4:22PM]

Just say the names to yourself: Vista....Azure....
Now imagine yourself near a babbling brook surrounded by green grass. You hear the faint sound of a flute in the distance.
The computer is your friend. Don't be scared.

This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.
If the problem persists, contact the program vendor.

[John @ Oct 27th 2008 4:27PM]

@16-bit

My point exactly. "Azure" is about as edgy as a Kenny G musical interpretation of a Bob Ross painting.

[16-bit @ Oct 27th 2008 4:29PM]

Don't you want to have a Windows OS with "Happy Trees?"

[jorvay @ Oct 27th 2008 4:41PM]

It should have a cool name like 'CutCo' or 'Interslice'

[Andir3.0 @ Oct 27th 2008 4:46PM]

"the clear, cloudless sky."

How can you claim to have a Cloud "OS" with no clouds...

[Abuzar Baloach @ Oct 27th 2008 4:49PM]

CutCo?

That's fuckin dumb...

[Da Tank @ Oct 27th 2008 5:08PM]

Seriously... you CHOSE the name "John"...?! Next time save the trouble and call yourself LAME.

[Abuzar Baloach @ Oct 27th 2008 5:17PM]

It should have a cool name like 'CutCo' or 'Interslice'

Seriously guys? You actually think CutCo or Interslice sounds cool? Come on...

[jorvay @ Oct 27th 2008 6:04PM]

Are you kidding me? I through a great Homer Simpson line out there and nobody gets it? Surely I'm not the only Simpsons fan on a nerdy gadget site!

Marge Simpson: What exactly is it your company does again?
Homer Simpson: This industry moves so fast it's really hard to tell. That's why I need a name that's cutting-edge, like CutCo, EdgeCom, Interslice. Come on, Marge, you're good at these! Help me out!
Marge Simpson: How about... Compuglobalhypermeganet?
Homer Simpson: Fine, it's not important. What really matters is my title. I think I'll make myself... vice president. No, wait! Junior vice president!

[John @ Oct 27th 2008 6:31PM]

Seriously... you CHOSE the name "John"...?! Next time save the trouble and call yourself LAME.

--------

This comes from a person who named him/herself "Da Tank"

[Abuzar Baloach @ Oct 27th 2008 7:53PM]

Nah, I grew up in Pakistan. Never watched the Simpsons.

[monkfishbandana @ Oct 27th 2008 9:57PM]

@ John

'Da Tank' is a fucking awesome name.

I have a pen. Now where's my birth certificate...

[DirtyVegas @ Oct 27th 2008 11:33PM]

Oh come on. You set yourself up for a Yo Momma joke there.

[Jake @ Oct 28th 2008 7:50AM]

@Esat:

$ echo 'Windows Total Ultimate Pwnage Thats Even Better Than Unwrapping An Expensive Christmas Present Containing Your Most Wanted Gadget Whilst Eating A Freshly Made Krispy Kreme Thats Nice And Hot' | perl -lane 'print shift @F, " ", map {substr $_,0,1} @F'
Windows TUPTEBTUAECPCYMWGWEAFMKKTNAH

Thanks lol
-jp

[merritt @ Oct 27th 2008 4:13PM]

they obviously can't come up with anything on their own... i wonder if Bentley will sue them for using the Azure name.

[Samboini @ Oct 27th 2008 4:18PM]

Yes, because Continental is such an original name too.

[coffee @ Oct 27th 2008 4:18PM]

yes, because people will confuse a car with a cloud operating system, both named after "blue", which I believe is about as copyright-able as Magenta.

[imacmatt09 @ Oct 27th 2008 4:20PM]

@ coffee

T-mobile....

[coffee @ Oct 27th 2008 4:22PM]

imac:

I know, that was kinda the point.

[Josh Ladella @ Oct 27th 2008 5:16PM]

yeah, and home depot will sue for microsoft calling their software "windows"

[Shea @ Oct 27th 2008 8:22PM]

@ coffee:
Well, Cadbury (the confectionary company) holds "the color purple" as a registered trademark

[holycow @ Oct 27th 2008 4:18PM]

What exactly is a Cloud OS? Is it meant for netbooks?

[Samboini @ Oct 27th 2008 4:19PM]

Here you go my furry little friend:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_Computing

[happy_penguin @ Oct 27th 2008 4:20PM]

Basically, it puts your desktop on the web so you can access it from almost any computer that is connected to the internet.

[holycow @ Oct 27th 2008 4:32PM]

Thank You guys!

[Erb @ Oct 27th 2008 10:26PM]

Remote desktop!

[happy_penguin @ Oct 28th 2008 10:53AM]

Remote desktop isn't the same thing. Remote desktop allows you to access your actual desktop on your own physical computer from a remote location through the internet. This requires that you have remote desktop ability on both your computer as well as the computer that you are using to access your computer. It also requires your own computer to be on. Cloud puts your desktop on the internet where you can access it from almost anywhere through the internet, usually regardless of platform. The benefit is much higher level of accessibility.

[Scott K. @ Oct 27th 2008 4:20PM]

Anyone hear of 'Curse of the Azure Bonds?' from the days of D&D? It'll have a whole new meaning after developers get a hold of the API for this thing.

[Valicore @ Oct 27th 2008 4:24PM]

God I must be too tired.I seriously thought you had written 'Curse of the Azure Blondes.'

[erisraven @ Oct 27th 2008 6:43PM]

Thank you! I'm glad I'm not the only Forgotten Realms geek out there that heard the name and saw twisting computer sigils! LOL

[Mikey @ Oct 27th 2008 4:20PM]

Please explain if I'm wrong, but doesn't this just combine already existing technology/protocols? Whats so special about it?

[brian @ Oct 27th 2008 4:34PM]

Well now instead of buying or pirating windows you're going to be paying a yearly "subscription fee" to keep your computer from locking up and turning into a giant turd.

Personally, I would be ok with paying 50-85 bucks a year. Any more than that and I'll just keep XP/Vista thanks. Hopefully by the time MS births this abortion linux will be a lot more mature for home use.

[Mikey @ Oct 27th 2008 5:09PM]

I can connect to my computer remotely, I frequently access SQL servers, and I already use programs developed on the .NET frame work on my computer running XP. What is the benefit of this?

I also believe there are many linux distros that are currently ready for home use. Proof: My dad is capable of using Ubuntu.